Festival of Cycling Closed Circuit Racing and Grass Track Racing

Festival of Cycling Closed Circuit Racing and Grass Track Racing

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Thoresby Park, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9EP
18 and 19 May 2013


In May 2012 the first ever Festival of Cycling took place at Thoresby Park in North Nottinghamshire. Due to the success of this event, the second event is taking place again on the Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2013.

This is a unique event within a beautiful setting located in North Nottinghamshire and even if you do not race or ride a bike there will be lots to do and see over the weekend. British Cycling Circuit Racing is one of the main events during the weekend, for all youth categories, senior Category 4, ladies and a tandem event.

On Saturday morning the event will include British Cycling closed circuit racing, on the private estate roads, within the wonderful private Thoresby Park Estate, this has been allowed by kind permission of Thoresby Estate Management and the Stonebridge Trust who manage the beautiful Courtyard and the surrounding lawns.

British Cycling Go-Ride racing will also be taking place alongside the main circuit racing events, again during Saturday morning. There will be two circuits, involved, a smaller circuit about 700 meters in length for Youth C,D, and E categories, this circuit takes place near to Thoresby Hall and the finish will be up on the short but deceptive ascent.

The longer circuit for the Youth A, B, Seniors and ladies racing is of about 2.8 km in length and is a slightly shorter version than last year’s course. The route takes the riders through the small estate village of Perlethorpe and past the beautiful church before turning right down a short downhill section over the Stonebridge towards the magnificent Thoresby Hall; the riders will turn right slightly uphill towards the finish.

There is a video clip on the event website although the finish has changed but this will give you an idea of the roads being used.The course although not extremely arduous, is fast and narrow in sections and can catch riders out; it is a test of the rider’s technical ability to negotiate these narrow sections safely and to position themselves to attack or for the finish. There is no time to relax.

Due to the course geography the rider field for each category is limited to 40, (45 in the seniors) so early entries are recommended. Entries are through the British Cycling 'on line' entry system.

There is a full weekend of other cycling activities, including, on Saturday afternoon, the Penny Farthing one hour feature race, the Unicycle Feature Race, on the long circuit and Unicycle and penny Farthing slalom racing, a 'Paper Boy Race' and an attempt at the World Record Penny Farthing stack, where Penny Farthings owners from the UK and Europe will be invited to attend.

On Friday 17 May during the evening in the Victorian Riding Hall, Joff Summerfield will be there to entertain everyone with his World Tour Talk and there is a bar open.

Joff rode around the world, 22,000 miles on his penny farthing and this is a talk that should not be missed. On Saturday evening there is a barn dance again in the Victorian riding Hall, this was a huge attraction last year and tickets are selling fast. On Sunday, Martin Smith of Martin Smith Opticians [Lincoln] is organising the 2nd Thoresby Grass Track event, on the boundary of the Thoresby cricket pitch, again entries through the British Cycling website.

Camping is available from Friday evening, for camper vans, caravans and tents (facilities are limited though). Car parking and admission is free. There will be lots of other attractions during the day and monies raised will help local charities. Please check out the web site at www.penniesinthepark.co.uk for the latest information and contact details. Photographs from last year’s event can be found on www.sportsshots.co.uk .